Adventure Awaits

She was ready for a journey. A journey which would take her to the ultimate destination – herself. Could there be any other way to truly let your soul free from its bondage's then travel? “Hop onto the train!” he called from up ahead, beckoning her with his outstretched hand. The rate at which her heart was thumping against her chest was phenomenal. With cat like impulse she lunged forward chasing the train in its steamy wake. “Let’s go have an adventure”, thought Morena.

The rumbling grate of the moving train forced Morena awake. But her ears detected another sound too. Evening had fallen overhead and the sky was overcast in a murky purple haze speckled with the last golden rays of the dying sun. Thunder clapped in the clouds midst ensuring that everyone below was aware of its presence. The nap had worn the girl out entirely and panic sensed that this was the time to pounce on her unsuspectingly.

Had she lost her mind? How could she have trusted a total stranger? What would he do with her once they arrived at their destination? Above all – Where was this train heading? It was time to dig. And dig deep. But before Morena planned her next move, the compartment door slid open and in stepped the stranger. The first thing that captured her attention was the smile he wore like a shield of sorts. It was a wry leer bordering on malice. But something about his eyes gave him away. There was warmth in those steely baby blues. An exultant sense of infinite hope emitted from him. “Here you go” said Kadir, handing Morena a warm cup of tea. The girl had no idea what she was in for.

Kadir took a seat across form Morena and folded his hands against his wide chest. Appraising the girl, he considered her to be around twenty. She would fetch a good price at the market. Only fools rejected fresh meat and she was just ripened to perfection. All of a sudden the girl looked up and took off the hat which had been shielding her eyes. Within the same moment, the thunder rumbled overhead sending tumults of fear into Morena’s heart. Her warm copper eyes grew wide in terror and her mouth was left agape. Kadir sat stunned. It would take a lot more than thunder to shake this man. But the girls gaze left him staggered. She was beautiful.

Left at the station alone and cold sat Morena. As luck would have it, Kadir had left her on a bench where an abandoned cell phone lay. Just as the clock struck twelve indicating midnight had chimed in, Bagdash came into view. Relief swept over the pair as their eyes met. His bride had been found and his future secured once more. Never would he let her out of his protective gaze again. Never would he give her a reason to flee. Everyday would be an adventure. Because with her, his life was complete. Finally, Morena felt the same.

Maalika Kazia

Beneath the chaos

I've come to realize one thing about life - Its never constant.
The folds of time turn fortunes up and down ceaselessly so that life resembles a zigzag line design, constantly oscillating between good and bad, happiness and sadness, desire and contentment.
But between this whole limbo - if we take a moment. Just one moment to sit and decipher the present as it were - we would find an inexplicable sense of resolution.

Kenya has recently been fraught with terror attacks and there is a growing unrest boiling constantly, getting stronger by the hour. Death, carnage, destruction and chaos reign the news at least once a week. However, life doesn't seem to stop or stand still even in the face of annihilation. Those who are directly impacted by these events suffer the worst of its aftermath. But those of us who read about it or hear about it click our tongues, say a word of prayer and move on with our lives with just a tad bit more caution. I cant help but feel helpless. What can anyone do to stop this? Yes we can blame the government and demand action on social networking sites. Yes we can discuss it endlessly amongst ourselves. Yes we can choose to limit our movements for the sake of self-preservation. Yet in reality, we are the innocent children watching our mother country being devoured by forces beyond our control.

But instead of deluding ourselves with a sense of peace which may just be an illusion - maybe, just maybe, we should stand together as a nation. Pop the bubble of self-preservation and come into the light. Stand as one force against the mutilation of our home, our people and our reality.

The question is not if that is a possibility...the question is, will it be enough?

Mother

Today I decided to share a poem with you which I wrote about an issue which deserves attention. We as humans need to realize the importance of our actions, and more so the consequences of our actions, on nature.

Mother

As she lies there crouched upon a flaming desert,

No end doth her eyes assert.

A battered soul and a crumpled heart for company;

A tormented being and a shattered life for comradry.

Her eyes speak a thousand words,

Pouring forth eons of reserve.

Pain encompasses her at every turn,

Everyone screaming for her to burn.

The soft silk of the Earth - upturned.

The soothing shimmer of the ocean - burned.

The crisp current of the air - tainted.

The ferocious fire of humanity - depleted.

Can you hear her lamenting?

Mother Nature is grieving.

Grieving for her Earth, grieving for her children.

Grieving because of their birth, grieving because of their insolence.

Maalika Kazia

The new face of terror

Hey guys
Today I decided to talk about an incident which occurred yesterday night in Nairobi. A saloon car exploded at the Pangani Police Station, leading to the death of 4 people - two of whom were police officers. Another explosive device found inside the car was safely removed and dismantled before it exploded.

Now, after the Westgate Mall Attack there has been a lot of unrest in the country. Every other day I come across articles about Churches being blown up, clerics being murdered in Mombasa, among other similar stories. The government is on a very vigilant path as they are scanning people, especially those of Somali origin who are living in the country. It is a risk to leave your home without carrying your original ID or passport, because if the police ask for these documents and you cant produce them, they take you down to the station.

All of these attacks have created a sheath of insecurity around the citizens of Kenya. Some people are choosing to passively ignore the situation, while others are being extremely precautious. According to me, the solution doesn't lie in pretending nothings wrong or acting like everything is.
I keep coming across articles on how youth radicalization is to blame for young people being drawn into terror groups and actually becoming brainwashed enough to commit heinous crimes in the name of faith. Due to lack of employment and a dire need for money, youth are being recruited into fanatical organizations with the hope of earning money. Can you really blame them? What they fail to see however, is that this wealth is not going to get them anywhere, because they are helping people destroy their country - their home. For that little amount of money, they are destroying the lives of countless people and eventually, their own.

As for the measures being taken by the police - I cannot say I love it, but I cannot say it is futile either. They are doing what they can. This new face of terrorism is not using a frontal approach whereby the enemy is clearly defined. The new face of terrorism involves using our own people against our own nation.

What do you say?

Dreams

Dreams

I am a dreamer, bearing the flag of fantasy high and proud.

I am a dreamer, with aspirations writhing inside my soul; waiting to sprout out.

A hope, a challenge, a demand, a carriage –

A dream can be all these, or simply mean salvage.

For me a dream is freedom

Freedom to spread my wings and fly.

The moment where I can breathe in the golden dust

And transform into something magnificent.

With the light of perseverance guiding me

Let the world come forth and see-

That I will attain my dreams,

And they will always live within me.

For without my dreams I am nothing.

An empty shell, which without its sustenance is cracking.

For my dreams are my breath, blood and sweat –

My dreams are my bread.

Maalika Kazia

The Damned

                                                                      The Damned

A free spirit, an untethered heart

                                                                     Soaring above the larks.
                                                           Waiting to spread its wings and fly,
                                                       Higher than the unbinding crystalline sky

 Yet with eyes so fresh and mind so bright

                                                                Her wings are torn and battered,
                                                                Sitting alone; her life shattered.
                                       Before her nothing she see’s…beside her, loneliness breathes.

 A little heart beating inside her,

                                                   Caressing her emotions with tiny palpitations.
                                                              A new life blooming within her,
                                                  Embellishing her with motherhoods coronations.

 Ever so softly, her heart melts

                                                 To sing to the tune of her newly formed angel
                                                   How can she murder this innocent stranger?
                                                     But if she should, two lives will be taken…

 That of her seraph and that of her spirit… Mangled by the judgment of humankind, crushed by the weight of judging eyes, stomped by the cruelty of sneering smiles…

Maalika Kazia

Spirit

Spirit

Never cease, never stop.

Never break, never drop.

Never think you’re not good enough for what you desire:

Because everything you will shall transpire.

Don’t break, don’t crack,

Don’t fall, don’t snap.

And if you do, I’ll be there to pick you.

I’ll never let you go; I’ll never let you lose.

I’ll always be your guide and your contesting spirit.

I’ll never give up, and I’ll not let you give in.

When hope is lying in his grave while you sit crying,

I’ll resurrect him with my eternal light shining.

I’ll let you cry, I’ll bear your bile.

I’ll let you wreak with fear and pain convoluting in your mind.

But I’ll never give up, never give in:

Because I am: your spirit from within.

Maalika Kazia